Bill Wolff, executive producer for the Rachel Maddow Show, shares a preview of tonight's show – a look at the Republican presidential election field in the wake of the New Hampshire primary, plus a look at what past candidates for the GOP 2012 primary... watch

With state legislatures coming back into session, along come the fringe bills. Three New Hampshire Republicans want laws to be based on the Magna Carta. Three Indiana Republicans want the Lord's Prayer allowed in schools every morning.And a Republican state legislator in Oklahoma wants to re-institute Don't Ask, Don't Tell for the... read more

Three Indiana state senators, all Republicans, have introduced a bill that would allow schools to require the recitation of the Lord's Prayer every morning, if they want to. Doug Masson writes on Masson's Blog:his type of attempt at having government sanctioned prayer looks like nothing so much as the effort of a small but vocal subset... read more

Leave it to 86-year-old Fidel Castro to dream up a futuristic angle on this year’s U.S. presidential elections—apparently what the Yanquis really need is President Robot.In an op-ed in the Cuban newspaper El Diario, El Jefe disparages both President Obama and his Republican opponents and then asks, "Isn't the worst part that there... read more

Yesterday in Ohio, supporters of what would be the nation's most restrictive abortion bill lined up children yesterday to make their case. And then they had the children make the case for the Heartbeat bill themselves, starting with a four-year-old boy. He appears on camera at about 1:29 -- he's so small, the press conference speaker... read more

Indiana House Democrats have started their boycott again in an effort to slow down the Republicans' anti-union bill. The Indianapolis Star ties it to the way Republicans muscled their anti-union bill through a House committee yesterday. They shut down debate on the Right to Work bill, which effectively bans union shops. The Republican chair... read more

Commenter @MVP730 takes issue with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's victory speech in New Hampshire last night. A few excerpts, with Mr. Romney's remarks in bold and @MVP730 after.First point, from @MVP730:Mr. Romney: "The median income has dropped 10% in four years."@MVP730 writes: "First, Obama has only been... read more

Newt Gingrich did "not break above 20 percent for any of the age, income, ideological or demographic groups that were identified in the exit poll sample."Even if a candidate won every single delegate in every single primary and caucus, he wouldn't secure the GOP nomination until mid-MarchA pro-Romney super PAC makes a $6 million... read more

I mentioned here once before that where I grew up in New Hampshire, every fourth grade class put(s?) on a musical play about the life of General John Stark (whose "Live free or die" declaration is probably the most famous thing about New Hampshire).Part of Stark's celebrated history is that he was captured by Native Americans and... read more

Like our Iowa coverage, the night begins at 6pm ET (now) with Rachel, Rev. Al Sharpton, Lawrence O'Donnell, Ed Schultz and Steve Schmidt on the set in New York City.Chris Matthews is live in Manchester, New Hampshire where he'll be joined again by Gene Robinson, Howard Fineman, Michael Steele and more.I've got an unofficial list... read more

Rachel Maddow drives the streets of New Hampshire with Felice Belman, editor of the Concord Monitor, January 6th, the Friday before the New Hampshire Primary, remarking on Rick Perry's weak campaign effort in New Hampshire as indicated by his sparse campaign signage: Rachel Maddow: Rick Perry! Is that a rare, Rick Perry sign?Felice Belman:... read more

Wonkette revels in this local ad out of Alabama, calling it "reatest campaign video of 2012, so far." And yes, we all know the candidate wants you to love it, if you support her, enough that you'll send the ad to all your friends. She's also happy if you hate it, so long as you hate it enough that you'll send it to all... read more

Can the GOP really nominate a candidate who opposes contraception? Really? Truly? In 2012? Jeffrey Toobin writes on the New Yorker's new politics page:Over the years the modern Republican Party has reflected both libertarian and authoritarian tendencies. Both survive, in a way. When it comes to taxes and regulation, the libertarian side of... read more

Jon Huntsman has gotten better at campaigning, Rachel argued last night, with ads like the one above that blunt frontrunner Mitt Romney's attacks. Our guest, Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post, argued that Mr. Huntsman still has a serious problem:I had a really interesting conversation today with a very prominent Republican here in New... read more

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Launched in 2008, “The Rachel Maddow Show” follows the machinations of policy making in America, from local political activism to international diplomacy. Rachel Maddow looks past the distractions of political theater and stunts and focuses on the legislative proposals and policies that shape American life - as well as the people making and influencing those policies and their ultimate outcome, intended or otherwise.